Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a drone operation case, according to a ruling delivered by the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera reported.
Prosecutors alleged that Yoon was involved in planning and authorizing a military drone mission into North Korean airspace in 2024. They argued that the operation was intended to heighten security concerns and help build public support for the imposition of martial law.
North Korea had previously accused South Korea of using drones to scatter propaganda leaflets over its territory, an incident that further escalated military tensions between the two Koreas.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the former president’s actions posed a threat to national security and regional stability, urging the court to impose the harshest possible sentence.
A court spokesperson told AFP that Yoon was sentenced to 30 years in prison after the charges were found to have been substantiated. However, the court had not yet released the full written judgment.
Yoon has consistently denied the allegations since the case emerged. His legal team maintained that he never ordered such an operation and argued that measures taken in response to border security concerns were being politically interpreted.
Earlier, Yoon had already been sentenced to life imprisonment in a separate case related to allegations of leading an insurrection in connection with an attempted declaration of martial law.
Source: Al Jazeera.